Major New Sporting Complex For South West Rocks

The Member for Oxley, Melinda Pavey MP, today announced a $2.46 million NSW Government grant that will see a new, three-story multi-sport and training facility built in South West Rocks.

Mrs Pavey said the NSW Government’s Regional Sports Infrastructure Fund grant will meet the current and future needs of the local community and the region.

“This new state-of-the-art complex will fill a gap in high performance infrastructure and capabilities for athletes, coaches and officials across a range of sports in the Mid North Coast region.

“It is very, very exciting. This is a big day for the ‘Rocks.”

“South West Rocks already has a strong and vibrant sporting culture, and this complex will enable it to become a sporting hub – with facilities and support services to cater for high-performance sporting events, as well as all the associated education, training, sport health, sports science and sports administration.”

“I congratulate the sport-minded proponents in the South West Rocks community, Kempsey Shire Council and all those who worked on the project to bring it from a vision to this reality.”

Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW, John Barilaro MP, said this project was one of 16 new projects to receive grants from the $100 million NSW Government Regional Sports Infrastructure Fund, taking the total number of projects supported under the fund to 21.

“I too congratulate Kempsey Shire and look forward to seeing this facility come to life with countless benefits for local players, athletes, teams, their fans and the wider sporting community,” Mr Barilaro said.

“The NSW Government has been working hard to make regional NSW a great place to live, work and play, to lift sports participation and help to foster a sense of pride and identity in regional communities.

“The money being spent will bring these facilities to the standard required to host a variety of national and state level matches and competitions across Cricket, Netball, Rugby Union, Rugby League, AFL and soccer, which will have significant flow-on benefits such as increasing tourism and boosting local economies.”

Kempsey Shire Council Mayor, Liz Campbell, said the project is a fantastic example of both levels of government working directly with the community to deliver a shared vision.

“The SWR High Performance Centre has been initiated and designed not only to attract representative sport and events but also to support local needs. It will improve playing and training facilities, create a function room for conferences and events and provide a mechanism to develop a whole range of entertainment options in South West Rocks.

“Council certainly acknowledge and thank the NSW Government for this significant funding injection but also honour the passion and drive of those community members who have made this possible,” said Mayor Campbell.

Minister for Sport, Stuart Ayres MP, said building and improving sporting facilities in regional NSW will develop pathways for strong athletes and create spaces for the community to come together and enjoy active and healthy lifestyles.

“By upgrading and expanding regional NSW stadiums, fields, training facilities and sporting hubs, we provide rising stars with the means to further develop their skills and encourage others to participate on the field or on the sidelines,” Mr Ayres said.